When Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail again this week, it did not shock many people anymore. The Dera Sacha Sauda chief, convicted in 2017 for raping two women followers, was granted a 30-day parole by the Haryana government. This was not his first temporary release. It was his 16th release since his conviction.
For many Indians, the bigger question is no longer whether he will get parole again. The question now is: who does the justice system truly serve?
Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year sentence for rape. Yet, over the years, he has repeatedly walked out of jail through paroles and furloughs. His releases have often happened close to elections or politically sensitive periods, leading to criticism from opposition parties, activists, and ordinary citizens alike. The case has become larger than one man. It now represents a debate about power, influence, political convenience, and unequal justice in India.
The Man Behind the Dera
Ram Rahim Singh constructed an empire over the course of many decades. He amassed millions of devotees through the Dera Sacha Sauda in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and neighbouring states. For his devotees, he was a spiritual leader. In the eyes of his detractors, he was a politically connected cult leader.
His image was meticulously created. He made appearances in movies, launched his own songs, made appearances in expensive costumes, and presented himself as a modern-day "godman."
All the major political parties openly solicited the support of his devotees, since the Dera was known to affect votes in several constituencies. However, in 2017, the facade crumbled. He was found guilty by a special CBI court for raping two female disciples. The conviction triggered violence between Haryana and Punjab, with a death toll numbering in the dozens. He received a 20-year jail sentence.
At the time, everyone thought the legal process had proven once again that powerful religious figures can also face punishments.
A Sentence That Rarely Feels Complete
Since his detention in 2017, Ram Rahim has been receiving parole regularly, or at least for the sixteenth time, in recent news reports. It is reported that he has already spent more than 400 days outside prison due to frequent parole violations.
In any case, legally speaking, the issue of parole is not illegal, as in Indian prisons, it is permitted by the rules due to reasons such as good behaviour, family emergency, or for social rehabilitation. Thousands of convicts get regular parole annually all over India.
Nonetheless, the case of Ram Rahim does not seem normal. An average prisoner normally cannot enjoy such privileges.
Many other ordinary prisoners find themselves unable to secure hearings or leave even temporarily. Many prisoners under trial wait for justice in the overcrowded prisons for decades. In contrast to this, continuous paroles of a high-profile criminal reflect the notion that influence works where equality should have worked.
The Political Timing Question
Another significant factor causing the matter to come up again and again is the time factor.
Most of Ram Rahim’s previous instances of parole happened during elections held in either Haryana or Punjab. The opposition always alleged that all these governments were misusing the influence of the Dera Chief for their political gains. But all governments deny the allegations and state that all parole applications go through proper channels.
Despite this, the fact remains that this is becoming an issue of concern. It cannot be forgotten that Dera Sacha Sauda enjoys substantial popularity among its followers. In some areas, the margin of difference between winners and losers is very small, hence making any shift in votes politically significant. And thus, all parole applications become political issues.
This is because what is becoming a matter of concern now is whether there is uniformity in the enforcement of the law.
What About the Victims?
When it comes to the topic of parole, one element that is conspicuously absent from the conversation is that of the victims. The two women who accused Ram Rahim of rape faced a truly tough challenge. Taking on a powerful religious guru in a country like India can be a very challenging proposition.
It resulted in one of the biggest criminal convictions against an alleged godman in the country.
Nevertheless, every time Ram Rahim gets paroled, many question the message it conveys to sexual assault survivors. Is the message reassuring – that they have nothing to worry about? Or are they reminded that even convicted individuals can enjoy comfort due to their power?
While punishment certainly means sentencing in a court of law, it also means delivering justice to victims. Parole undermines this process.
The Murder Case Acquittal Added More Debate
In addition, this year, Ram Rahim has also been acquitted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, whose reporting had exposed many wrongdoings of the sect before he was shot dead in 2002. This has once again opened a debate regarding justice and power, as the supporters of this sect have hailed the acquittal as an example of a false charge against Ram Rahim, whereas others have seen this as yet another instance of the elite getting away with their crimes.
Yet, from the point of view of law, it is within the powers of a higher court to reverse the judgment of a lower court if the evidence is not adequate and sufficient.
However, whether people trust the law and believe it or not depends on how consistent this attitude towards the rule of law is in the face of power.
Social Media Anger and Public Frustration
The latest parole generated a storm of criticism on social media sites. Many users raised questions about whether imprisonment has simply turned out to be symbolic for powerful criminals.
Some even drew parallels between the freedom of this person and ordinary prisoners waiting for years to get released on bail. Some users attacked the political setup, stating that vote bank politics appears to hold more weight than justice itself. It goes without saying that social media reactions may be based on emotion and hype. However, they do highlight the growing sense of frustration among citizens regarding inequality in the application of the law.
Perception is nearly as critical as process in any democracy. When people no longer see an institution as fair, trust erodes gradually but steadily.
Justice Must Look Equal Too
But the case of Ram Rahim’s parole is not only about his case as a convicted godman. It is about the more serious issue of the principles underlying the justice system in India. Even though the parole can be legally sanctioned, even when prison regulations are obeyed, justice cannot merely be reduced to the issues of law and compliance. Justice must be consistent, ethical, and credible to the public.
How can people not question the process when they see that inmates from ordinary backgrounds struggle with obtaining their basic needs, while privileged convicts obtain temporary releases time after time?
Whose mercy do they get?
Whose influence do they use?
Whose exceptionalism do they claim?
The question that matters the most here is — for whose sake is this justice?
References
- The Indian Express – “Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets 30-day parole, 16th release since conviction” https://indianexpress.com
- The Economic Times – “Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh out on 30-day parole” https://economictimes.indiatimes.com
- NDTV – “Rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets 30-day parole” https://www.ndtv.com
- Times of India – “Ram Rahim walks out on parole again” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Times of India – “Punjab and Haryana High Court acquits Ram Rahim in journalist murder case” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- BBC News – “Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh rape conviction explained” https://www.bbc.com